Railway skate-operating apparatus



Se t. 1

p 6 927 E. G. LITTLE RAILWAY SKATE OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26. 1926 INVNTOFS.' cibi/M46. m

l BY Q' Z' ATTORNEY shown in Fig. 2.

Patented sept. e, 1927.

,UNITED sierras err-ics. g

EDVIN G. LITTLE, OF VPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, `ASSIGNOR T THE UNION l SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or' rENNsYLvANIA.

RAILWAY SKATE-OVPERATING BPARATUS.

Application filed January 2 6, 1926.7 Serial Ne.`v 83,912.

M y invention relates to railway skate operating apparatus, that is, to apparatus for moving the skatey toL and from its active position on the rail. I will describe one 'form of skate operating apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

`ln the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view, partly in vertical section, vshowing one v,form of skate operating apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the trackway skate illustrated inV Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa side View of the skate Similar reference characters refer to simipar parts in each of the threeviews.`

Referring first toy 1, the reference character yA designates a track rail of arrailway track. A trackway skate B (see also Figs-2 and 3) is provided with a channel l1 on its'under side to receive the head of the' rail A when the skate is in its active position upon the rail. The skate comprises an inclined tongue 2 overlying the head of the rail, and upon which thetrea'd of a car wheel is adaptedrto run. lThe tongue 2 merges into a curved surface 41, s o proportioned as to fitthe rounded surface of' the wheeltread and to form an abutment against which the wheel engages. The skateis provided with a channel 5v to receive the flange of the wheel. Outstanding from thel lower edge of the skate B is a lug 6, which is inclined downwardly, as best shown in l1,

and the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

The skate B is arranged to be moved to and from its active position by means or" apparatus which I will now describe.

Located in the trackway beside rail A is a housing 7. A lever 8 is pivotally supported in this housingatpoint 9, The rfree end of the lever 8 is pivoted at 10 to a movable n link 11 provided with a yoke .13 which receives the lug -6 of' the skate B.` The ,parts are so proportioned that when ,the yskate is not resting on the rail, the weightof the skate` tends to rotate the skate in a clockwise direction, thereby wedging the lug `6 in lthevyoke 18 and resulting inV af gripping action between'y the skate and thelink 11.

The free yend of linkll is guided by means Lot a fixed cam 111 iwhich may be integral with the housing 7 and-which isengaged by a` roller 12 pivoted in link 1l.

The lever 8 is operated by a motor D, here illustrated as 4a motor of the fluidv pressure type.y This' motor comprises a cylinder 15 containing a reciprocable pisto-n 16, to which is attached a piston rod 17. The manner ofconnection of the rod 17 with the piston permits slight oscillation of the rod 17. The tree end of this rod is attached to lever 8, and vthelever is therefore swung abeut its pivot 9 when piston 16 is moved 'in ktlie cylinder 15. Piston 16 is constantly urged toward its left-hand position, in which it is illustrated in the drawing, by means of a .Spring '18- vThe yadinissitm of fluid pressure to the cylinder is controlled by a valve E which coinprises a valve steni19`provided with a winding 2O and an armature 199. l/Vhen winding r2 0 is de-energized, valve stem 19 occupies its upper position, so that the lefthajnd end of cylinder 15y is connected with atlnospliere.v Then winding 20'is energized, however, the stein 19 isA moved downwardly andthe left-hand end of cylinder 15 is then disconnected from atmosphere and isA connectedwith ak suitable vsource lof fluid pressure, usually azir,` notsh'own'in the drawing. As illustrated in the drawing, winding'20 of valve E 1s de-energized, so that the lefta'tino'spliere. kPiston 16 therefore occupies lil hand. endv of cylinder 15 is connected with y its left-hand position under the influence of spring 18. Lever 8 occupies its lett-hand position and the parts' are so proportioned and arranged that under these conditions the Askate'B carried by link 11 isretracted to its inactive position, as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1.k

, l will now assume that winding 2O ot valve .E becomes energized. VStem 19 of this valve moves'downwardly vand air is admitted to cylinder 15 'forcing piston 16 to the right against the bias exerted by spring 18. This movement of piston 16 swings lever 8 to i the right about its pivot 9. Link 11 is theret'ore moved toward theright, the motion of the link kbeing guided by the roller 12 on ycani During this motion' the skate B is lifted towardthe rail A.'VL When the pivots 9 and l() are in approximately a straight line with the roller Y12, the y:skate B overhangs therail A. Asthe motion ot lever Sconlianes, however, it will he seen that link ll twisted slightly in a clockwise direction, therein' driilpjnng the skate ln on the head ot the rail. lhe motion o'l lever l is con- Finnell :tor :i slight distance past the position in vvliieh the, skate engages lhe rail, so that when the parts are in iheii' linal positions, as illustrated in broken lines on the drzliving, the skate res pon the rail and the .lng l is eoniiilei'elv disengaged liioni the link ll, though still projecting; into yoke ll. ll a -a alleinpts to proceed over rail i with the skate in its active position, the iront nlieel ol" the -i i' engages the skate and slides ilJ along' the rail..` therein; causing' a poweitnl hrakingi ell'eet` and lningiinn the ein.' to rest. 'lhis operation oi*l the skate olf course n-ioves it with riiispoelz to the link lll, lint the lng,` o on the slizate, heini); l'ree in the voke 13 of lhe link', nioves ont. olf the yoke n'itliont interliering with the operating apparatus in any way. Alter the skate, has .heen engaged liv a zar, it may he retinned liy an attend.- ant to a position in ivliieh the lng (i enters viili'e lll.

i ssinning that the skate is in its active pos tion, it may lie returned to its inactive position liv de-enei'giying Winding 20 of valve lil. This operation interrupts the snpplv ol air to the eilindeil l5 and connects the cylinder ivith atmosphere. Spring 1S then returns piston lli to its letl'li:nid position. The lirst part ot the refsnltiin;l niotion ol lever S to the left twists link ll sliplitljiT in a eminier-Clockwise direction, 'thereby larising' lag G on the skate to he gripped in the Lvoke 11:) of the link. As the inotion of lever l eoniinnes, the skate B is li'lted from its posi `ion on the rail and is carried Clownirai-div till the parts are all returned to their original positions.

llnringl' the retinn oi the skate 'troni its aelive to its inactivo position. it nill lie seen lliat lhe weightol" the skate and the link ll have a tendeneiv to aid the spying 18 in restoring the paris to the position in ivhieli they are illustrated in l'nll lines in the draw inn". ln the alisenee of any iinfeventative nieainsl the parts would return sharply and would he suddenlyr arrested at the ends ol their strokes liv engagement oit the piston 'lll "with the end ol the evlintler. in order lo prevent the mechanical shook which would resnli ilfroin this nndesirahle oeenri'enco l. provide a 'alve G heli-Ween valve lil and Jthe @vlinder This valve 'G' comprises a` Allex'ihle diaphragm 2l carrying; a valve sealy Q2. The diaphragm and seall are inovidei'l Willi :i holo which reeeives a lixed valve stein with considerable elearanee. `llhen air is heini; adniitl'ed to the cylinder. this air flows tlironnh the hole around the stein 23 and ineeiis With snlistaw tialljv no opposition. Daring` the return oit the piston 1G to ils left-hand position hoiv- Leanne resi'lt the passage :troni the cylinder is sabslai iallv reduced. and there is a cushioning eikel whieh retards lhe inotion of the parts as the sleale is returned to :its inactive posi tion.

la the torni here shown the skate norinallioeenpies inae, e position and is moved lo its :ietire or lnakinp piiijiiliion hy the inotor hill il should he pointed ont that this parlieilar einislrnelion is not essential to my invention.

i'llllionpjh l. have herein shown and de ed onl'v one lorin olt skate operating appa rains einhoilvini,Y niv invention, it is linden lood lha l1 nylons changes and nn'idilieations ma); he nnnle therein within the scope o'l1 the appended elaiins ivililionli departingl 'trom lha spirit and seope ol' my invention.

lavina illins deserilieil my invention, what l elaini is:

l. lla i l wav skate operati ng apparatus eolnpiisingf a niovalile link for (letacliably en- ,ejaoii h ihe Skal., means for operating said link lo nieve ihe skate lol and ilfroni its active position, and a liked cani nienihei ttor guidinn said link lfailnaiy :kateoperatingapparatus Coinprisinn' a niovahle link provided with a yoke For freely revolving;` said skate, the skate heine; at liiines clamped in said yoke by its ovfn iveiojlil. and nie: ns 'l'or operating` said link lo move said skate to its active position.

fi. llailwaj,Y skate operai'hifil apparatus Coniprisino; a niovahlo skate actuating' link, means lor moving' one end ol said link along a piedel'erinined path` and a cani for guiding the other end ol the link.

l. Railway .skate operatingl apparatus comprising: a inovahle link for detaeliahly ,i'i'ippii'io; the skate and normally oeenp` ,"in,9,l a Vposition in n'liieh the skate is removed troni the rail. and means lor at liinies niovingg' lhe link to a seeond position in which the skile rests upon the rail and is detached ii'roin the link.

lailn'alv skate operating' alnoaratns comprising' a pivoted lever, :i inovahle link for del'aehalily gripping;l the skate and havinn one ond pivotally attaelied to the lree end oi? said lever, a :ain or guiding' the, other end ol said link.y and means for operating; said lever ivlierehy said skate is moved lo and Alironi its active position on the rail.

il. Railway skate operating apparatus eonnnisino: a niovahle link 'toi' cletaehalily gripping;- the skaie and. noiiniilly occupying a position in which the skate is removed from die rail, a pivoted levelI having" its lree end attached to one end o said link,

lil!) a cam for guiding the other end of said link and a Huid pressure motor for at times operating said lever to move the skate to its active position. A

7. Railway skateV operating apparatus comprising a fluid pressure motor, a valve for controlling` said motor, linkwork for operatively connecting said motor with askate, and a fixed cani for guiding said linkWork.

8. Railway skate operating apparatus comprising a -fluid pressure motor arranged when operated to move said skate to its active position, the skate being biased to its inactive position, a normally open valve responsive at times to theA pressure in said motor, and means for at times supplying Huid pressure to said motor through said valve and for at other times connecting said motor With atmosphere through said valve.

9. Railway skate operating apparatus comprising` means for constantly urgingL the skate toward its inactive position, a Huid pressure motor arranged when operated to move the skate to its active position, a rst valve for at times supplying iiuid pressure to said motor and for at other times connecting said motor With atmosphere, and a second valve responsive at times to the pressure in said motor and interposed between the motor and said iirst valve.

l0. Railwayk skate operating apparatus comprising means for constantly urging-the skate toward its inactive position, a Huid pressure motor arranged when operated to move Vtheskate to its active position, a first valve for at times supplying fluid pressure to said motor and for at other times connecting said motor with atmosphere, and a second valve interposed between said rst valve and said motor and comprising fixed valve stem and a iiexible diaphragm having a seat cooperating With said stern.

l1. Railway skate operating apparatus comprising a link detachably connected with the skate, a motor for actuating said link, and a cam for guiding the link so that When the motor is operated the link places the skate upon the rail and detaches the link from the skate. l

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

EDWIN G. LITTLE. 

